The Laurel Crown Poem by Martin Farquhar Tupper

The laurel crown! for duty done,
For good achieved, and honours won,
For all of natural gift, or art,
That thrills and fills an earnest heart
With generous thoughts and stirring words
Struck from its own electric chords,-
On these your modern muses frown,
Yet these deserve the laurel crown!

The laurel crown! for soaring song
Eagle-pinion'd, free, and strong,
That, as God gives grace and power
Consecrates each hallow'd hour
Wisely, as a patriot ought,
By burning word and glowing thought,-
On this pour all your honours down-
To this belongs the laurel crown!

The laurel crown! in common eyes
A wreath of leaves, a paltry prize,
A silly, worthless, weed-like thing,
Fit coronet for folly's king:
The laurel crown! in wisdom's ken
A call from God to waken men,
Lest in these mammon depths they drown,-
This is thy glory, laurel crown!

Yes, laurel crown! if seen aright
A majesty of moral might
To lead the masses on to good,
And rule the surging multitude
By nobler and more manly songs
Than to some troubadour belongs,
Who feebly warbles for renown,-
Not such be thou my laurel crown!